Brake controllers

[BrianW]

I have a Reese Electronic controler that I got at Wally World 7 years ago for under $60.. I am very happy with it. I can set the brake pressure and amount of delay. Also can set the brakes manually with push button.
I was in Orlando 4 years ago with 1/2 ton Chevy, 1500lb in the truck and 4000lb on my 12' trailer. Four cars shoot past me, cut in front of me and slam on their brakes for a light. I managed to stop without hitting them. I love those trailer brakes!
Don't even consider the old style controlers that connected to the brakes hydraulicly. There is no need to go to that much trouble anymore.

I vote for the Prodigy also. I had the Reese I beleive you are talking about. You have two adjustments on it. One is for total braking force and the other is for how long it takes to reach the total breaking force. You get the same breaking force for panic stops as well as casual stops! Electronic brake controllers usually sense the stoplight at start braking from that signal. One thing I found annoying about the Reese is when you are in stop and go traffic or you are creeping up to a light, every time you hit the brake to the point the brake light went on, the trailer brakes would jerk the vehicle. The Prodigy senses the deacceleration of the tow vehicle and applies the brakes accordingly. If you are casually braking you get light trailer brakes. If you are panic stop braking, you get maximum trailer brakes. The very first time I switched from the Reese to the Prodigy I couldn't beleive a trailer could stop so well.

 

[wushaw]

In my case I doubt the Jordan controller would work. The brake pedal only has a 1/4" movement from start to finish.
I use a Tekonsha controller. Don't recall the model. But it works fine. I also use it in another vehicle. Put a plug on the wires so it could be moved from car to car without wiring hassels.

Do you have air brakes???
I have never seen hydraulic air assist brakes with only 1/4" movement.

 

[Ford960]

I've been using a Kelsy-Hayes hydraulic controller in my 2003 F-350 for the last two years and it is way way better than the time based and pendulum controllers that I've had in the past. I do not like ANY controller that is only activated when the brake light switch is closed. Easing your foot up on the brake pedal releases the trailer brakes before I'm ready to come to a complete stop and then I have to get back on the brakes which applies the trailer brakes again and that's crap.
Go ahead and tell me how a hydraulic controller will not work with my rear ABS, my K-H was designed to be used with ABS. Go ahead and spend the money for a Prodigy, Jordan, or Brakesmart, at $27 I'll stick with my K-H. It's dirt simple, it works first time every time, and I never have to readjust it

 

[Bird]

Thirty plus years ago, I, too, used a Kelsey-Hayes hydraulic brake controller, and it was undoubtedly the best brake controller on the market at the time. However, I didn't think they even made them any more. I haven't known of anyone using that type of controller in over 20 years.

 

[wushaw]

I've been using a Kelsy-Hayes hydraulic controller in my 2003 F-350 for the last two years and it is way way better than the time based and pendulum controllers that I've had in the past. I do not like ANY controller that is only activated when the brake light switch is closed. Easing your foot up on the brake pedal releases the trailer brakes before I'm ready to come to a complete stop and then I have to get back on the brakes which applies the trailer brakes again and that's crap.
Go ahead and tell me how a hydraulic controller will not work with my rear ABS, my K-H was designed to be used with ABS. Go ahead and spend the money for a Prodigy, Jordan, or Brakesmart, at $27 I'll stick with my K-H. It's dirt simple, it works first time every time, and I never have to readjust it

The Jordan uses a cable attached to the brake pedal and the more pedal that is applied the more power to the brakes, so it is simular to a hydraulic based unit.
Most folks won't go through the effort to install the K-H unit....it is a plug and play erra

 

[John White]

I feel as Ford 960 does. Ive used the old Kelsy for years and have it on two trucks. Ive tried a couple of the others and just didnt like them. I know it takes taping in to the brake line. I havent seen any of them in the trailer shops. I kept my eyes open and found a cupple of them at a flea market for $4. and I grabbed them up just to have on hand.

 

[LoneCowboy]

Prodigy
Best money I"ve spent
i've got the others on other trucks, they work ok, but the prodigy is set it and leave it and it just works.
I'd never go back. (and I tow ALLLL the time)

 

[RPK]

I was told by a trailering buddy that the prodigy was the one to get. I have one installed but haven't tried it yet. I am getting a new H&H 20' tilt bed trailer next week and I will let you know how it works.

RPK

 

[jimainiac]

We have Teconsha controllers in both of our trucks, the '98 has a Commander, don't know if they make that anymore, and the '04 has a Prodigy. Both are inertia based, but the Prodigy is a much improved unit. I tried a time-based controller once and found that idea to be impractical in real world conditions. Time based controllers don't know whether you're slamming on your brakes in a panic stop, or just gradually slowing down.

 

[Z-Michigan]

We have the Prodigy controller on a Ram 2500 that we use to haul a 3-horse slant gooseneck trailer (4800lbs empty, 9-10,000 lbs fully loaded). It works great and really has no downside that I see. Highly recommended.